Dante Bichette named new Colorado Rockies hitting instructor

Rockies manager Walt Weiss' recruitment of Dante Bichette paid off Tuesday as the former Rockies all-star was named the team's new hitting instructor.

Bichette had been contacted about the job several weeks ago but was uncertain there was a fit. That changed when Weiss was named the Rockies manager last week. Weiss personally called Bichette and asked that he reconsider. And Bichette accepted.

Said Weiss: "We felt Dante was a top-notch hitting guy. And once he showed renewed interest, we went after him full-bore."

Bichette was a four-time all-star with the Rockies and a former teammate of Weiss' in the mid-1990s. Bichette, 48, retired following the 2001 season. He's a career .299 hitter with 274 home runs and 1,141 RBIs.

"He was the best I ever played with when it came to driving in runs," said Weiss. "He always had a terrific two-strike approach, and he was very, very good with runners in scoring position."

Bichette did special-assistant work for the Nationals after he retired. But he has spent the last several years coaching his sons, including Dante Bichette Jr., who is a top prospect in the Yankees organization.

When asked what Bichette might afford younger hitters, Weiss said: "For me, hitting at the major-league level is mostly about the mental approach. Dante always had a great level of awareness when he was in the batter's box. That's what this game dictates. That's what you need to succeed."